Breech-block-operating device.



I. HYDE.

BREECH BLOCK OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5. I91],

Patnted J an. 14, 1919.

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J. HYDE.

BREECH BLOCK OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1917.

1,291,677. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

E u Q 2 6 6 h WITNESSES INVENTOR M Y (fag/0k Wale M By A TTOBIVEVS ms Nouns PIYCRS w. rnmurum, uusnmcnw a c "UNITE JOSEPH HYDE, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BBEECH-BLOCK-OPEBATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed .1 une 15, 1917. Serial No. 174,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HYDE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Breech-Block-Operating Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to ordnance and has to deal particularly with means for automatically operating the breechblock.

The invention has for its general objects to provide a simple, novel and effective means whereby the recoil of the gun at the time of firing will automatically actuate the operating means for opening the breechblock and also whereby the elevation of the gun to firing position will automatically close the breechblock.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a power -transmitting means between one of the trunnions of the link or arm on which the gun swings and the operating shaft of the breechblock mechanism, whereby said shaft is rotated to first turn the breechblock, and then swing the same outwardly to open position during the recoil of the gun, whereas motion is transmitted to effect the closing and locking of the breechblock when the gun is elevated.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth with particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of a disappearing gun with the breechblock operating mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear view of the breech mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the clutch means between the flexible shaft and the trunnion gearing, whereby the breechblock mechanism is relieved from undue strain by excessive movement of the gun.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a gun which is mounted in the usual manner on front and rear arms or links 1 and 2, the arm 1 being mounted on a carriage 3 of usual construction. The breechblock 4 is mounted in the usual manner on a swinging arm 5 that is operated by the usual crank shaft 6 through a worm 7 on the shaft 6 meshing with a gear wheel 8 on the hinge shaft 9, said shaft 9 being provided with a skew gear 10 which meshes with a segmental rack or gear 11 on the breechblock, so that by the turning of the shaft 6'the breechblock is first turned through a suitable angle and then the arm 5 swings to move the breechblock out of the breech of the gun, all of which is according to the usual method of operation.

The present invention contemplates the use of means between the trunnion 12 ofthe front arm 1 and the shaft 6 of the breechblock mechanism, whereby the said shaft will be operated automatically by the movement of the gun in the same manner as if the shaft 6 were operated manually. On the trunnion 12 is a bevel gear 13 which meshes with a bevel pinion 14 on the rotatable element 15 of the flexible shaft 16, said element 15 being inclosed in the usual manner in a sheath or tube 17 which has its ends restrained at 18 and 19. On the other end of the flexible shaft element 15 is a bevel gear 20 which meshes with a bevel gear 21 on the shaft 6. The shaft 16 is flexible so as to follow the movement of the gun between the full and dotted-line positions, Fig. 1. When the gun is fired it swings downwardly and backwardly during the recoil, and this causes the trunnion 12 to turn with respect to the carriage 3, whereby the gear 13 meshing with the pinion 1 1 will rotate the flexible shaft 16, so that it in turn will rotate the shaft 6 of the breechblock mechanism to open the breechblock. When the gun is again elevated the flexible shaft will cause the breechblock to move into the gun and turn, so that its threads will interlock with those in the breech. It is desirable to provide means for preventing unduestrain on the breechblock mechanism in case the gun should swing beyond its normal range. For this purpose the pinion 14: is clamped to the element 15 of the flexible shaft in a manner shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 15 is provided with threads 22 and the pinion 14 has a hub opening 23 of larger diameter than the threads 22, so that the pinion 14 can readily turn. Nuts 2 1 and 25 are engaged with the threads 22 and clamp through washers 26 the pinion not be injured.

14 to a. the element 15. 1 Thus, when there:- sistance of the element 15 is greater than the clutch action between the pinion let, washers and nuts, the pinion 14: is. free to turn without turning the element 15, whereby the breechblock mechanism or operating connections between it and the trunnion will From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin gs, the advantages of the'construction and method of operation. will be readily under-' stood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the mechanism which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the mechanism shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: v

1. The combination of a' gun, a breech Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the v Washington, D. 0." i

Y member. for the a .movable supporting n, a flexible shaft includmg a flexible eIe mentconnected with the breechblock mechanism to operate the same automatically, and means for rotatin block mechanism,

2. The combination of a gun,a swinging "supportin 'member for the gun, a breechblock mec anism, and a flexible shaft between the trunnion of the said member and the breechblockmechanism to operate the breechblock automatically; 7 3. The combination of a gun, -,a' recoil mounting for the gun having xa' movable member formed with a trunnion, a breechblock mechanism, a flexible shaft operatively connected with the said mechanism, and a gearing including clutch means between the trunnion and the flexible shaft for operat- :IiJng the latter by the movement of the-memer. a 1 v JOSEPH HYDE. Witnessto signingr. a J OSEPH VENEZIALE.

Commissioner 01- mam,

the .7 rotatableelement of the flexible shaft by the movement of the said supportingmember. 

